Teacher:Ms. Donovan Office Location:Ed Center Office Hours: 2:00-3:30 Monday and Wednesday E-mail: lydia.donovan@maine.edu
Summary of Unit
This unit will uncover numerous historical events of the classical Mediterranean Basin as well as classical China and India. This unit will also involve the emphasis on the concept of diversity and culture. Students will look at how each civilization differs in culture and how each of these cultures may differ from our own culture today. Students will be able to empathize with the different cultures and explore what each culture entails. By the end of the Unit students will be able to distinguish the reasons for war and diversity and will be able to explore aspects of other cultures that they may not be familiar with. This unit includes many hands on projects that will explain the importance of topics such as the Caste System in India, the Han Dynasty, aspects of religion in culture and history,as well as the warring states,and many more exciting topics. The objective of this unit is, students will be able to analyze historical events such as war and culture and be able to compare it with events that are going on in our state, country, and even the world.
Establish Goals
Maine Learning Results Content Area: Social Studies Standard Label: E. History Standard: E2 Individual, Cultural International, and Global Connections in History Grade Level: Grade 6-8 Classical Civilizations of Mediterranean Basin, India ,and China, 1000 BC-600 AD
Students will understand historical aspects of unity and diversity in Maine, the United States, and various world cultures, including Maine Native Americans. Performance Indicators: a,b,c
Students will understand that
•historical aspects of unity and diversity in the classical civilizations effect the world today.
•inventions of the classical civilizations contribute to the diversity of each culture.
•War is both essential and and important part of culture.
Essential Questions
•How does diversity in the classical civilizations effect the world today?
•How so the inventions of each civilization contribute to their diversity?
•Why is war an important part of culture?
Students will know
•Important events and people:Genghis Khan, Qin Dynasty,Ming Dynasty, Ashoka, Buddhist monks, Krishna, Upanishads, Confucius, Aryans,Julius Caesar,Socrates, Octavian
•Sequence and timelines:Caste System, Six Kingdoms, Warring State period, Hun/Gupta invasions, Persian war, Eastern Han Dynasty, Western Han Dynasty,The Roman Empire, Peloponnesian war, Fall of the Roman Empire
•Key factual information: facts about caste systems, Hinduism, Religion and philosophy, Christianity, Sanskrit, Gods and Goddesses of the classical period, Religious involvement
Students will be able to
•demonstrate the function of an invention and show that it is important to that civilization.
•make sense of the cause of different wars.
•design a model of the invention used in classical civilizations.
•compare and contrast classical cultures to their own.
•imagine what it is like to live in a culture other than their own.
•realize the cause of wars and connect them to the diversity of a culture.
Performance Task Overview
The History Channel Board of Directors wants to include a documentary in next month's airing lineup. They only have one opening and do not have a documentary for any of the classical civilizations. To solve this problem they have put out an add informing all historians that they need a new documentary. You realize that as a historian this will help your advance your career and it comes with a $5,000 bonus check to the winner. Your task is to create a documentary of a classical civilization of your choice. Your documentary must include the diversity of that civilization's culture, and the importance of war and other creations from that civilization. The Board of Directors would like this documentary to be creative as well as accurate. You are then expected to come to the History Channel Head Quarters and present your documentary and explain why you think it would be the one to fit all of The History Channel's requirements. The History Channel will then pick the most accurate yet creative documentary from all the auditions and air it next month. Good Luck with your auditions!!
Expectations
Absences: If students are absent during this class they are expected to see me for any information they have missed as well as pick up the hand outs or assignment rubrics that will be placed in a box in the back of the room. Students will find the assignment that they are missing and look for the paper that has their name at the top. Once students have gotten their assignment for the day they were absent they must complete it and turn it in as soon as possible. Plagiarism: We have a school policy on plagiarism. Students must cite all of their sources and ask for any permissions that are required for pictures, text or ideas. Students will cite their information in A.P.A format in this class. If you are having any trouble citing a source please ask the teacher for help prior to the due date of the assignment. The teacher will check your work against the website usinggrammar.com if there is any reason to believe that work is being plagiarized. The student will be asked to fix citations only once if no sources are cited to be given the benefit of the doubt. Please cite your sources!! Assignments: Assignments will be posted on the syllabus and the teacher will write them on the board for assignments that are due the next day.Any writing assignments are to be written in Times New Roman with a 12 size font and should be double spaced. Please see the teacher prior to the due date is you feel you can not complete by the due date and an extension will be negotiated. If you will not be in class but know the assignment is due please e-mail the teacher with a copy of your assignment attached and bring in the paper copy the next day you come to class. Our classroom is all about communication. Classroom Expectations:respectful,be prepared, students can borrow writing utensils from teacher but must return them
Be respectful.
Be prepared.
Be ready to participate and have an open mind.
If you need any supplies please see the teacher.
Benchmarks (450 pts.)
•movie:Students will create an movie of how their civilization would use their invention and connect it to the importance of their culture. This is to wrap up the lesson on inventions contributing to culture. This movie will allow students to be creative as well as show me what content students have grasped about inventions and objects of the classical civilizations.(60 pts.)
•Podcast: Students will create a podcast noting all factors of the war they picked in the classical age. The assignment will allow me to assess students on their knowledge of a certain war. The teacher as well as your fellow peers will be able to listen to the students podcast and learn more on a particular battle that was not particularly covered in full depth. (50 pts.)
•Google Sketch Up: Students will design a modern version of the invention you chose in Google Sketch Up and explain how it will work well today. This assignment is to allow students to be creative while connecting history to the world today. The teacher will assess how enthusiastic the student is about their invention. (50 pts.)
•Google Docs: With a partner write about opposing sides of an interesting event in the classical period in Google Docs and compare it to events happening today. At the end of this project students will see which essay is more persuasive because the class will vote. The teacher will consider the vote while grading but will not base the whole grade on the vote. (40 pts.)
•Blogger: Students will create a blog that compares the life of people in the classical time period to life today. This blog will be continuing through out the whole unit. Peers will give feedback on the blog posts through the comments section of the student's Blog. You and your peers are required to respond to at least three classmates' blogs. (60 pts.)
•PowerPoint: Students will create a PowerPoint of a specific war and explain aspects of changes in culture or importance of that war. This assignment is to challenge student's research skills. This will also give students the experience of teaching the class and have a whole new experience in the classroom. (40 pts.)
See Performance task overview for the final product of this Unit.(150 pts.)
Grading Scale
A (93 -100), A- (90 - 92), B+ (87 - 89), B (83 - 86), B- (80 - 82), C+(77 - 79), C (73-76), C- (70 - 72), D+(67 - 69), D (63 - 66), D- (60 - 62), F (0 - 59).
Office Location:Ed Center
Office Hours: 2:00-3:30 Monday and Wednesday
E-mail: lydia.donovan@maine.edu
Summary of Unit
This unit will uncover numerous historical events of the classical Mediterranean Basin as well as classical China and India. This unit will also involve the emphasis on the concept of diversity and culture. Students will look at how each civilization differs in culture and how each of these cultures may differ from our own culture today. Students will be able to empathize with the different cultures and explore what each culture entails. By the end of the Unit students will be able to distinguish the reasons for war and diversity and will be able to explore aspects of other cultures that they may not be familiar with. This unit includes many hands on projects that will explain the importance of topics such as the Caste System in India, the Han Dynasty, aspects of religion in culture and history,as well as the warring states,and many more exciting topics. The objective of this unit is, students will be able to analyze historical events such as war and culture and be able to compare it with events that are going on in our state, country, and even the world.Establish Goals
Maine Learning Results
Content Area: Social Studies
Standard Label: E. History
Standard: E2 Individual, Cultural International, and Global Connections in History
Grade Level: Grade 6-8 Classical Civilizations of Mediterranean Basin, India ,and China, 1000 BC-600 AD
Students will understand historical aspects of unity and diversity in Maine, the United States, and various world cultures, including Maine Native Americans.
Performance Indicators: a,b,c
Students will understand that
•historical aspects of unity and diversity in the classical civilizations effect the world today.
•inventions of the classical civilizations contribute to the diversity of each culture.
•War is both essential and and important part of culture.
Essential Questions
•How does diversity in the classical civilizations effect the world today?•How so the inventions of each civilization contribute to their diversity?
•Why is war an important part of culture?
Students will know
•Important events and people:Genghis Khan, Qin Dynasty,Ming Dynasty, Ashoka, Buddhist monks, Krishna, Upanishads, Confucius, Aryans,Julius Caesar,Socrates, Octavian
•Sequence and timelines:Caste System, Six Kingdoms, Warring State period, Hun/Gupta invasions, Persian war, Eastern Han Dynasty, Western Han Dynasty,The Roman Empire, Peloponnesian war, Fall of the Roman Empire
•Key factual information: facts about caste systems, Hinduism, Religion and philosophy, Christianity, Sanskrit, Gods and Goddesses of the classical period, Religious involvement
Students will be able to
•demonstrate the function of an invention and show that it is important to that civilization.•make sense of the cause of different wars.
•design a model of the invention used in classical civilizations.
•compare and contrast classical cultures to their own.
•imagine what it is like to live in a culture other than their own.
•realize the cause of wars and connect them to the diversity of a culture.
Performance Task Overview
The History Channel Board of Directors wants to include a documentary in next month's airing lineup. They only have one opening and do not have a documentary for any of the classical civilizations. To solve this problem they have put out an add informing all historians that they need a new documentary. You realize that as a historian this will help your advance your career and it comes with a $5,000 bonus check to the winner. Your task is to create a documentary of a classical civilization of your choice. Your documentary must include the diversity of that civilization's culture, and the importance of war and other creations from that civilization. The Board of Directors would like this documentary to be creative as well as accurate. You are then expected to come to the History Channel Head Quarters and present your documentary and explain why you think it would be the one to fit all of The History Channel's requirements. The History Channel will then pick the most accurate yet creative documentary from all the auditions and air it next month. Good Luck with your auditions!!
Expectations
Absences: If students are absent during this class they are expected to see me for any information they have missed as well as pick up the hand outs or assignment rubrics that will be placed in a box in the back of the room. Students will find the assignment that they are missing and look for the paper that has their name at the top. Once students have gotten their assignment for the day they were absent they must complete it and turn it in as soon as possible.Plagiarism: We have a school policy on plagiarism. Students must cite all of their sources and ask for any permissions that are required for pictures, text or ideas. Students will cite their information in A.P.A format in this class. If you are having any trouble citing a source please ask the teacher for help prior to the due date of the assignment. The teacher will check your work against the website usinggrammar.com if there is any reason to believe that work is being plagiarized. The student will be asked to fix citations only once if no sources are cited to be given the benefit of the doubt. Please cite your sources!!
Assignments: Assignments will be posted on the syllabus and the teacher will write them on the board for assignments that are due the next day.Any writing assignments are to be written in Times New Roman with a 12 size font and should be double spaced. Please see the teacher prior to the due date is you feel you can not complete by the due date and an extension will be negotiated. If you will not be in class but know the assignment is due please e-mail the teacher with a copy of your assignment attached and bring in the paper copy the next day you come to class. Our classroom is all about communication.
Classroom Expectations:respectful,be prepared, students can borrow writing utensils from teacher but must return them
Benchmarks (450 pts.)
•movie:Students will create an movie of how their civilization would use their invention and connect it to the importance of their culture. This is to wrap up the lesson on inventions contributing to culture. This movie will allow students to be creative as well as show me what content students have grasped about inventions and objects of the classical civilizations.(60 pts.)•Podcast: Students will create a podcast noting all factors of the war they picked in the classical age. The assignment will allow me to assess students on their knowledge of a certain war. The teacher as well as your fellow peers will be able to listen to the students podcast and learn more on a particular battle that was not particularly covered in full depth. (50 pts.)
•Google Sketch Up: Students will design a modern version of the invention you chose in Google Sketch Up and explain how it will work well today. This assignment is to allow students to be creative while connecting history to the world today. The teacher will assess how enthusiastic the student is about their invention. (50 pts.)
•Google Docs: With a partner write about opposing sides of an interesting event in the classical period in Google Docs and compare it to events happening today. At the end of this project students will see which essay is more persuasive because the class will vote. The teacher will consider the vote while grading but will not base the whole grade on the vote. (40 pts.)
•Blogger: Students will create a blog that compares the life of people in the classical time period to life today. This blog will be continuing through out the whole unit. Peers will give feedback on the blog posts through the comments section of the student's Blog. You and your peers are required to respond to at least three classmates' blogs. (60 pts.)
•PowerPoint: Students will create a PowerPoint of a specific war and explain aspects of changes in culture or importance of that war. This assignment is to challenge student's research skills. This will also give students the experience of teaching the class and have a whole new experience in the classroom. (40 pts.)
Grading Scale
A (93 -100), A- (90 - 92), B+ (87 - 89), B (83 - 86), B- (80 - 82), C+(77 - 79), C (73-76), C- (70 - 72), D+(67 - 69), D (63 - 66), D- (60 - 62), F (0 - 59).